70
19.
Hongkong, January 1st, 1842.
In January, 1841, Hongkong was ceded to the British crown, and the island was taken possession of on the 26th; but nothing was done for its improvement until May, when a chief magistrate was first appointed, and shortly after a Road was commenced under the superintendence of the corps of engineers belonging to the Chinese expedition. From May to August, the population increased most rapidly, and an extensive bazaar shortly followed this congregating of people, though it received several severe checks from typhoons and fires. After the departure of the Chinese expedition to Amoy and Chusan in August, permanent public buildings were commenced on the side of the island facing the present anchorage, which is called by the natives "Kwun-tai-loo.”
Commencing from the westernmost part of the present settlement there are at this date, independent of the temporary barracks which afford quarters for the Bengal Volunteers, one of a permanent nature for about 60 men, nearly completed,—a stone store-house of considerable dimensions ready for use,—and another smaller one in a state of forwardness. A road runs from these buildings to the bazaar, a distance of about one mile and a half, on the side of which some private buildings have been commenced, while in and about the bazaar itself some 20 permanent shops are in different states of completion. From this latter point to the residence of Mr. Gillespie, a distance of about 2 miles, is the present scene of greatest activity; and on both sides of the road permanent buildings of some importance, both as to size and number, have been and are in progress of construction; while a little higher up Magistracy-hill, we see 3 or 4 permanent houses already finished and inhabited, overlooked by the Magistracy and Prison itself; and on about the same elevation, but more to the east on Government-hill, a public office to serve as a temporary residence for the head of the government is just finished having a guard house at no great distance from it, where at present are quartered an officer and more than 60 men of the 55th foot. Near to this is the residence of the land-officer, and a small public building at present used as a post-office. Pursuing the road to the east, one arrives at Cantonment-hill, on which a barrack is nearly finished for the Madras Native Infantry, with a powder magazine a little way behind it. At the foot of this hill a small battery is about to be commenced.
Arrived at Mr. Gillespie's, the road crosses a granite bridge and ascends rather suddenly to a gap cut through a hill, from which one commands a view of the whole valley and village of Wong-nei-chung, and the road to "Tai-tun" winding up it until lost to sight among the hills in the centre of the island. If instead, however, of pursuing this road, the branch which crosses the valley and goes on east is followed, one at length arrives at the village of Soo-koon-poo,—at present a sequestered, well wooded, and very pretty part of the island. It is from the western end of this village that a point runs out into the sea, whereon an European building has already been commenced, and off which lies Kellet's island, where the government are constructing a battery. The road to the east terminates at the village of "Soo-koon-poo;" but about three miles farther is the fishing village of "Soo-ke-wan,"—a place with a large migratory population.
76
A
70
19.
Hongkong, January 1st, 1842.
In January, 1841, Hongkong was ceded to the British crown, and the island was taken possession of on the 26th; but nothing was done for its improvement nuti! May, when a chief magistrate was first appointed, and shortly after a Road was commenced under the superin-- tendence of the corps of engineers belonging to the Chi nese expedition. From May to August, the population increased most rapidly, and an extensive bazaar shortly followed this congregating of people.-though it received several severe checks from tyfoous and fires.-After the departure of the Chinese expedition to Amoy and Chu- san in August, permanent public buildings were com- menced on the side of the island facing the present au- chorage, which is called by the natives "Kwun-tai-loo.”
Commencing from the westernmost part of the present settlement there are at this date, independent of the tem- porary barracks which afford quarters for the Bengal Vo- Junteers, one of a permanent nature for about 60 men, nearly completed,-a stone store-house of considerable dimensions ready for use,--and another smaller one in a state of forwardness. A road runs from these buildings: to the bazaar, a distance of about one mile and a half, ou the side of which some private buildings have been com- menced, while in and about the bazaar itself some 20 permanent shops are in different states of completion. From this latter point to the residence of Mr. Gillespie, a distance of about 2 miles, is the present scene of great. est activity; and on both sides of the road permanent buildings of some importance, both as to size and num- ber, have been aud are in progress of construction; white a little higher up Magistracy-hill, we see 3 or 4 perma- nent houses already finished and inhabited, overlooked by the Magistracy and Prison itself; and on about the same elevation, but more to the east on Government-hill, a public office to serve as a temporary residence for the head of the government is just finished having a guard house at no great distance from it, where at present are quartered an officer and more than 60 men of the 55th foot. Near to this is the residence of the land-officer, and a small public building at present used as a post- office. Pursuing the road to the east, one arrives at Cantonment-hill, ou which a barrack is nearly finished for the Madrus Native Infantry, with a powder magazine a liule way behind it. At the foot of this hill a sinall bat- tery is about to be commenced.
Arrived at Mr. Gillespie's, the road crosses a granite bridge aud ascends rather suddenly to a gap cut through a hill, from which one commands a view of the whole valley and village of Wong-nei-chung," and the road to "Tai-tun" winding up it until lost to sight among the hills in the centre of the island. If instead, however, of pursuing this road, the branch which crosses the valley and goes on east is followed, one at length arrives at the village of Soo-koon-poo,--at present a sequestered, well wooded, and very pretty part of the island. It is from the western end of this village that a point runs out into the sea, whercon an European building has already been commenced, and off which lies Kellet's island, where the government are constructing a battery. The road to the east terminates at the village of "Soo-koon-poo;" bat about three miles farther is the fishing village of " Soo- ke-wan,"--a place with a large migratory population'
76
A
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